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U.S. EPA Salutes SmartWay Transport Partners in the Southeast

Release Date: 10/06/2009
Contact Information: Dawn Harris-Young, (404) 562-8421, [email protected]

(Atlanta, Ga. – Oct. 6, 2009) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizes seven southeastern based entities for their leadership in conserving energy and lowering greenhouse gas emissions from its transportation and freight activities.

The partners were among a total of 37 SmartWay Partners who received an Environmental Excellence Award. The awards were announced today at the American Trucking Association’s Annual Management Conference & Exhibit in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The companies recognized today include:

Home Depot - Atlanta, GA
Georgia-Pacific - Atlanta, GA
UPS Diesel - Atlanta, GA
Lowe's Company Inc. - Mooresville, NC
Kimberly Clark Corp. - Knoxville, TN
Covenant Transport Inc. - Chattanooga, TN
US Xpress Enterprises Inc. / Xpress Global - Chattanooga, TN

The national Partnership's goal is to reduce at least 33 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) and up to 200,000 tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx) per year by 2012. Carbon dioxide is the most common greenhouse gas, and nitrogen oxide is an air pollutant that contributes to smog.

SmartWay was introduced by EPA and a select group of fifteen shipping and business leaders in 2004 as an innovative, market-based partnership to reduce fuel use, greenhouse gas emissions, and air pollutants from the freight sector. Today, more than 2,100 businesses and organizations have joined the Partnership, including companies of all sizes, from Fortune 500 companies to family-owned businesses, each working to improve their environmental performance.

Together, through the SmartWay Partnership, these companies will eliminate six million tons of CO2 that contribute to global warming, and save more than 540 million gallons of diesel fuel – an economic savings of at least $2 billion a year.

For more information about SmartWay visit: www.epa.gov/smartway or call (734) 214-4767.

For more information about the Award winners visit:
www.epa.gov/smartway/transport/partner-resources/awards-2009.htm